Grounder for gasoline dispensing nozzles



Oct. 2, 1934. F. GQKLOCK 1,975,550

GROUNDER FOR GASOLINE DISPENSING NOZZLES Filed Sept. 29, 1932 Man/507".

, jmmzz'n G ma/A Q anexplosion and frequently injury to the at- Patented Oct. 2, 1934 GROUNDER FOR GASOLINE DISPENSING NOZZLES- Franklin G. Kloek, East Orange, N. J.

Application September 29, 1932, Serial llo. 635,374

7 Claims. (01. ?.2l3)

My invention relates to a nozzle grounder for use with the nozzles of dispensing hoses employed at gasoline filling stations.

Experienced attendants at gasoline filling stations know that it is necessary to touch the metallic, dispensing hose, nozzle to the metal gasoline tank of an automobile before permitting the flow of gasoline into the tank, to prevent electric sparks that would ignite the gas vapors and cause tendant, and others; such sparks being caused, as iswell known by a difierence in potential of electrostatic charges in the automobile tank and the nozzle. Thisdiilerence in potential is attributable to the friction caused by the gasoline flowing through the hose, and perhaps also to other causes. Nevertheless, by making this metallic connection between the tank and nozzle the difference in potential is neutralized and sparking, with its consequent hazards is eliminated.

However, in the hands of inexperienced, or careless attendants, such precaution is not taken, and disastrous explosions and fires result.

Accordingly, this invention particularly relates to a simple device connected to the metallic nozzle for automatically making metallic contact between the tank and nozzle certain so that no harm can result under any circumstances.

lhe primary object of my invention, therefore, ;-is to provide a simple attachment for a gasoline hose nozzle that will always insure metallic contact with the tank to neutralize electrostatic charges, during the dispensing operation.

Another object is to provide such a device ;that can be employed on standard nozzles now in use without altering their construction or otherwise aflecting their usefulness and emciency.

Another object is to provide such an attachment that will additionally serve to retain or hold ;the nozzle in the tank filler spout, thereby preventing its accidental dislocation from the tank while the gasoline is delivered through the hose to the tank.

Other objects, no doubt, will become apparent nto those skilled in this art, as the disclosure is more fully made.

Briefly, these desirable objects may be achieved by the illustrative forms of the invention herein selected as practicable examples for the purposes of the disclosure, in which forms one or more flexible, spring wires, or the like, are appropriate- 1y made fast, or otherwise connected to the nozzle, so that such attachment serves as an auto- ,matic grounder by contacting the sides of the tank filler opening as the nozzle is inserted thereinto.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings: Figure 1 is a view showing a hose nozzle inserted into an automobile gasoline tank, with the automatic grounder afiixed to the nozzle, to show, how it functions in use;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, elevational view of the nozzle and grounder assembly;

Figure 3 is another view of this assembly, but viewed at right angles to the showing in Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing a modified form of grounder.

In this drawing, a gasoline storage tank of the kind used on automobiles, and the like, is represented at '10, the fill r spout opening 11 thereof being shown in section, with the filler nozzle 12 of a gasoline service station dispensing hose, shown at 13, the same having the usual turn on and shut off valve handle control 14.

Automatically to neutralize the static electricity caused by the flow of the gasoline through the hose 13, a grounder attachment is provided for the nozzle 12, such attachment automatically contacting, metallically, the tank spout 11 to achieve this result. Such attachment in the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises a' pair of flexible, metallic wires 15, arranged on opposite sides of the nozzle 12 and preferably running lengthwise thereof in the manner shown. These wires, of course, are springy or flexible, and bowed or bulged outwardly, as shown intermediately of their ends, to insure contact with the spout 11. If it is desired to increase the resiliency of these wires, coils 16 may be formed adjacent their ends. The ends of the wires shown at 17 may lie flatly against the outer surface of the nozzle 12 and be secured thereto in any convenient manner, as for example, by small set screws 18, or as shown by Way of example, at their upper ends by means of a standard form of hose clamp device 19.

The bulging curvature of these oppositely disposed wires, it is to be understood, will be such as to cause the nozzle 12 to ride yieldingly into the spout l1,and to frictionally press the wires against the spout sides to insure good metallic contact and to retain the nozzle therein so that it cannot accidentally fall out and spill the gasoline. These grounder wires in no way interfere with or prevent easy insertion or withdrawal of the nozzle into or out of the tank.

In Figure 4 a single wire is employed at 15' having a more perceptible bulge, with its lower end curved, hook fashion, upwardly into the nozble, While its upper end is anchored to the nozzle by any suitable means, such, for example, as the clamp 19. In this form when the nozzle 12 enters the spout 11, the fiexible wire 15 is compressed as it contacts and engages the inside of the spout 11, the compression of the wire causing the hook-shaped lower end of the wire to engage the inside of the nozzle in an obvious manner.

As the lower end of any one of the grounder members shown in the various forms extends to or beyond the discharge end of the nozzle, it follows that it is impossible to insert the nozzle into a tank without first establishing metallic contact of the grounder with the tank.

From this disclosure it can now be seen that a simple grounder has been provided for the pur-.

poses stated, which achieves all of the desirable objects heretofore recited.

The necessity for employing this nozzle grounder is especially pronounced in the case of self-serve gasoline dispensing stations, where it is proposed that the customer perform the dis-,

pensing, or tank filling operation himself; in such instance, obviously, the customer in all likelihood will be inexperienced and not cognizant of the possible dangers involved.

It is the intention to cover all such changes and modifications of the examples herein disclosed, which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention as indicated by the definitions thereof comprising the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A gasoline, or the like, hose nozzle having an, elongated yieldable grounder member made of conducting material and connected thereto, said grounder member being so arranged on the nozzle that it serves yieldingly to contact a portion of a tank to be filled before the nozzle can be inserted into the filler opening of the tank.

.2. A gasoline, or the like, hose nozzle having a grounder member made of conducting material carried thereon, said member being bent away in spaced relation from the nozzle and running lengthwise thereof, the member further being yieldable and so arranged that it must loosely and yielding ly contact a portion of the tank to be filled before the nozzle can be inserted into the filler opening of the tank.

3. A gasoline, or the like, hose nozzle having an elongated grounder member connected thereto, said member extending to or beyond the discharge end of the nozzle and so arranged that it must yieldably and loosely contact a portion of a tank before the nozzle can be inserted thereinto, said member being made of resilient conducting material and having its major portion spaced from the nozzle.

4. A gasoline, or the like, hose nozzle having an elongated grounder member made of conducting material and connected thereto, said member extending to or beyond the discharge end of the nozzle and so arranged that it must contact a portion of a tank before the nozzle can be inserted into the filler spout thereof, said member running lengthwise of the nozzle.

5. A gasoline, or the like, hose nozzle having an elongated grounder member made of conducting material and connected thereto, said member extending to or beyond the discharge end of the nozzle and so arranged that it must contact a portion of a tank before the nozzle can be inserted thereinto, said member being resilient and running lengthwise of the nozzle with its major portion bent outwardly to space it from the nozzle.

6. A gasoline, or the like, hose nozzle having a pair of grounder members connected thereto, said members being made of conducting material and extending lengthwise of the nozzle and each having an end extending to or beyond the discharge end of the nozzle and so arranged that one or the other or both members must contact the filler spout of a tank before the nozzle can be inserted thereinto.

7. A gasoline, or the like, hose nozzle having a pair of grounder members connected thereto, said members being made of conducting material and extending lengthwise of the nozzle and each having an end extending to or beyond the discharge end of the nozzle and so arranged that one or the other or both members must contact a portion of a tank before the nozzle can be inserted thereinto, said members being bent out away from the nozzle to insure proper contact.

7 FRANKLIN G. KLOCK. 

